Stay-in camp gives parents a break from caregiving duties

Alawiyah has consistently surpassed expectations, such as when medical professionals predicted she would not live beyond her first year.

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FROM C1 Or when a psychologist said she had a low IQ; she is now in the academic programme at Cerebral Palsy Alliance Singapore School East.

"Whatever activities Club Rainbow shares with me, I would enrol her in. These programmes allow her to feel like a normal child and help her learn to be more independent," said Madam Hidayah. She has two other daughters, aged 10 and two, and a one-year-old son, and is expecting another baby in October.

After a fun-filled time at the camp, Alawiyah beamed with pride as she showed her participation certificate to her mother.

Madam Hidayah said: "She told me that kakak (Malay for elder sister) is usually the one who gets to do many activities. But this camp gave her the chance to try new things, such as using a badminton racket, which really boosted her self-confidence."

However, due to her medical complications, Alawiyah could not stay overnight with her new friends, limiting her experience to a day camp.